jobs in hospital for pre-nursing student?

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Specializes in NICU.

Hi! I will be in nursing school this fall (should I be accepted!). I was hoping to get a job in a hospital just to get a foot in the door and to gain some experience. I currently have been a vet tech for 7 years. I know this in no way compares to people medicine, but it gives me some background in medicine (plebotomy, anesthesia, drugs, intubation etc...) I was wondering if there are certain jobs that I can apply for? When I look up hospitals on the internet I am unsure as to what jobs to research. Any help? Thank you in advance.

P.S. I live in San Antonio:typing

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Try looking for a tech/clerk position. I just interviewed for a "Health Unit Coordinator" position, which doesn't require certification, but they were interested in my science hours on my transcripts. Hope this helps!:up:

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Specializes in Acute Hemodialysis, Cardiac, ICU, OR.

I agree... just working on a unit as Ward Clerk/Unit Secretary can teach you so much. Also, as a student, I worked as an EKG tech -- simple, on-the-job training, it got me into every unit in the hospital so I could get a little taste of everything. Plus, when we went through cardiology, I had a 'leg up' on the other students.

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Specializes in NICU.

Did you need any previous training to be a tech? It seems that all the jobs (especially in nurse support) require certification of some kind or at least a years experience. Maybe I should just apply in hopes that someone will give me a chance and train me there.

P.S. I just got my acceptance letter to nursing school!!!:loveya:

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Specializes in Acute Hemodialysis, Cardiac, ICU, OR.

I didn't know anything about EKG when I was hired for the job... There was an opening and I applied, and the manager knew I was in Nursing school (early in the program, so she knew I'd be there for awhile), so maybe that helped. Before that I had worked as a ward clerk and in a hospital business office, but both of those in a different hospital.

Look through ALL the listings for your local hospitals... you might be surprised how many positions are out there that provide on-the-job training and require no previous experience. I had no idea the plethora of positions there are in healthcare before I went into Nursing... and honestly, some of them get paid better than we do, with no licensure and much less school. A good face-to-face interview can do wonders if you can just get in the door.

Congrats on your acceptance, and good luck!

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Specializes in Neuro.

Hi Miarose,

Good luck getting into nursing school. I have just finished my 2nd semester and after I finished my 1st, I was able to apply with the hospital as a nurse tech/extern. It has given me a lot of experience, although I can't do anything as far as "nursing" goes. It is more like a PCA/CNA job. I can d/c foleys, do simple dressing changes, suction intubated/vented patients, d/c IV lines, etc. I am far more comfortable working with patients than my classmates who don't have an extern position.

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Specializes in NICU.

Thanks! I think I am going to do that. I have seen a lot of nurse extern positions open in the hospitals in my area. I am sure my first semester will fly by. Thanks for the great input!

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